Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

An EU funded project for the benefit of the whole EPPO region

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NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Stromatinia cepivora (Sclerotium cepivorum) (SCLOCE)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

Name as submitted in the project specification (if different to the preferred name):
 

Pest category:
 
Fungi


1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:

Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
 
Yes

Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
 
Yes

Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
 
  • Not relevant: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Not relevant

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
2 – Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
 
Austria (1990); Bulgaria (1993); Cyprus (1990); Czech Republic (2011); Denmark (1993); Finland (2011); France (1990); Germany (1993); Greece (1990); Ireland (1990); Italy (1990); Netherlands (1990); Portugal (1994); Portugal/Azores (1994); Romania (1990); Spain (1990); Sweden (1992); United Kingdom (1993); United Kingdom/England (1994); United Kingdom/Northern Ireland (1994)

Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
Data of the presence of this pest on the EU territory are available in EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/).

HOST PLANT N°1: Allium cepa Aggregatum types (Allium ascalonicum) (ALLAS) for the Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
2 - Vegetable seedling sector: Commission Directive 93/61/EC

Plants for planting:
 
Plants intended for planting


3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Evaluation continues

4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

 
Justification:
 
White rot is a damaging diseases of Allium ascalonium, shallots, where roots may be rotted with embedded sclerotia and cause rotting in storage if conditions are suitable. High levels of soil infestations may kill the plants in many areas of the field and release high numbers of sclerotia which can survive for many years in the soil or associated debris. Surveys show residual population exist for 10-15 years and even after 40 years can elicit 1-5% plant loss (Compendium of Onion and Garlic Diseases, 2008). For these reasons it is suggested that once S. cepivorum is established in a field, shallot bulbs, though a pathway, are not likely to be the main pathway, because infection can arise from soil and debris-borne sclerotia for many years. However experts concluded that, even in areas where S. cepivorum is already established, a lot of fields are free from the pathogen. In those cases, infected plants for planting (sets, cloves ...) may constitute a high risk pathway.

5 - Economic impact:

Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
 
Yes

Justification:
 
Experts considered that the economic impact could be extrapolated from onion (A. cepa). This is reinforced by the fact that shallot is produced by vegetative multiplication. Experts confirmed that this crop is also impacted by Stromatinia cepivora.

What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
 
Major

Is the economic impact due to the presence of the pest on the named host plant for planting, acceptable to the propagation and end user sectors concerned?
 
No

Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 

6 - Are there feasible and effective measures available to prevent the presence of the pest on the plants for planting at an incidence above a certain threshold (including zero) to avoid an unacceptable economic impact as regards the relevant host plants?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification:
 

7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 

CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Recommended for listing as an RNQP, based on data and practical experience.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
Yes

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Zero tolerance approach, based on the following risk management measures.

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
Yes

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
(A) The plants are module raised transplants grown in medium free from Stromatinia cepivora;
OR
(B) (a) (aa) The crop has been inspected at an appropriate time during the growing season and no symptoms of Stromatinia cepivora have been observed; or
(bb) The crop has been inspected at an appropriate time during the growing season and plants showing symptoms of Stromatinia cepivora have been rogued out immediately with no symptoms seen at an additional final inspection of the growing crop;
and
(b) The plants or sets have been inspected before marketing and no symptoms of Stromatinia cepivora have been seen.

Justification (if necessary):
 
Experts commented that they do not have examples of use of transplants for shallots, but decided to keep this solution just in case.

REFERENCES:
  • Compendium of Onion and Garlic Diseases (2008) Second edition. The American Phytopathological Society;